Special Coverage

Three-way rematch at Hanshin

The $2.1 million Oka Sho, or Japanese 1000 Guineas, at Hanshin on Sunday, will be a highly competitive affair featuring the first three home from the March 8 Tulip Sho, in which Air Pascale, Tall Poppy, and Odile were separated only by noses.

A War Emblem filly, Air Pascale led throughout the Tulip Sho, run over the same Hanshin mile as the Oka Sho. She just held onto defeat Tall Poppy, last year's Japanese 2-year-old filly champ and the expected favorite Sunday.

Odile, however, could get the better of them both this time around, as she was closing fastest of all in the Tulip Sho from a very wide draw. On Sunday she will break from post 5 and is the selection with Katsumi Ando aboard.

Speedy Flower Cup winner Black Emblem could soften up Air Pascale on the front end, while stakes winning closers Little Amapola and Meine Ratsel should be running late off the fast pace.